System and method for adverse vehicle event determination

ABSTRACT

A method for determining an adverse vehicle event, including: sampling sensor data an onboard vehicle system coupled to an ego-vehicle; at the onboard vehicle system, extracting a set of event parameters from the sensor data, wherein the vehicle event data is associated with a vehicle event occurring within the time interval; computing a loss probability based on the set of event parameters in response to the loss probability exceeding a threshold probability, transforming the set of event parameters into insurance claim data; and automatically transmitting the insurance claim data to an endpoint, wherein the endpoint is determined based on the participant identifier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/011,013 filed Jun. 18, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/521,058 filed Jun. 16, 2017, eachof which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by thisreference thereto. This application is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/892,899, filed Feb. 9, 2018, which applicationis incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the automotive analysis field, andmore specifically to a new and useful system and method for adversevehicular event determination in the automotive analysis field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of a variation of the method ofadverse vehicle event determination.

FIG. 2 is an example signal curve indicative of an adverse vehicle eventin an example implementation of the method.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of example interrelated systemsassociated with an example implementation of the method.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart representation of a specific exampleimplementation of the method.

FIG. 5 depicts a diagram of a specific implementation of a portion ofthe method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionis not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments,but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use thisinvention.

1. Overview

As shown in FIG. 1, the method for adverse vehicle event determinationincludes: determining vehicle event data; analyzing vehicle event datato generate an event analysis; automatically generating insurance claimdata based on the event analysis; and transmitting insurance claim datato an endpoint.

The method functions to determine that an adverse vehicle event hasoccurred. The method can also function to determine characteristics ofthe adverse vehicle event (e.g., severity, anticipated monetary cost,etc.). The method can also function to generate insurance claim databased on the characteristics of the adverse vehicle event. The methodcan also function to provide the insurance claim data (e.g., data thatcan be used to open or file an insurance claim, a first notice ofloss/FNOL, etc.) to an entity (e.g., an agent at an insurance company, avehicle-history monitoring service, etc.).

The method is preferably performed in response to occurrence of avehicle event (e.g., a sharp change in the vehicle attitude, impact ofthe vehicle with another object, receipt of a notification of vehicledamage, receipt of new sensor information, determination of vehicleevent data, etc.). However, the method can additionally or alternativelybe performed continuously in real- or near-real time, asynchronously, orat any other suitable time. In variations, the method is performediteratively at a predetermined frequency (e.g., once per millisecond),performed a single time during a time period defined between a vehicleignition time point and a vehicle turning-off time point, performed asingle time for the vehicle, and/or be performed at any suitablefrequency. In further variations, the method is performed afterverification from a user (e.g., a crash is detected, followed bytransmission of verification notifications to one or more user devices,followed by receipt of verification by the user, and finally followed bygeneration of insurance claim data). However, performance of the methodcan have otherwise suitable temporal characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 3, the method and/or variations thereof can beperformed by and/or implemented at various related systems. The methodis preferably performed related to a physical vehicle 900 traversingthrough a physical volume, but can additionally or alternatively beperformed for a virtual model (e.g., of a vehicle) or otherwise suitablyperformed. The physical vehicle can be an automobile, a motorcycle, abicycle, a skateboard, an aerial system (e.g., a drone, plane, etc.), orbe any other suitable vehicle. The vehicle can be driven by a humandriver, be automatically controlled, be telematically controlled (e.g.,by a teleoperator), or be otherwise suitably controlled. The method ispreferably performed for a single vehicle, but can additionally oralternatively be performed for a plurality of vehicles, a pair ofvehicle involved in a vehicle event (e.g., in a crash), and/or any othersuitable number and/or grouping of vehicles. The vehicle 900 ispreferably equipped with an onboard vehicle system 200. The onboardvehicle system 200 preferably includes one or more sensors 210 (e.g.,permanently integrated with the vehicle, installed in a removabledashboard-mounted module, etc.), a power system 220, an onboardprocessing system 230 (e.g., a vehicle computer), a memory system 240(e.g., onboard FLASH memory storage), and a communication module 250.However, the vehicle can include any other suitable subsystems and/orcomponents, either integrated into the vehicle (e.g., duringmanufacturing, as an aftermarket add on, etc.), coupled to a removablemodule (e.g., a mobile device, a dashboard-mounted system, etc.), and/orotherwise suitably associated with the vehicle. Variations of the methodare preferably performed at least partially at a remote computing system800 (e.g., a remote server), which can include one or more databases 810(e.g., for storing data and/or from which to retrieve data) and analysismodules 820 (e.g., for performing any Blocks of the method and/orvariations and examples thereof). Various blocks of the method can beperformed in cooperation with a mobile device 700 associated with anoccupant of the vehicle (e.g., an occupant device, a user device) orwith another entity. However, the method and/or portions thereof can beotherwise suitably performed with any suitable system(s).

2. Benefits

Variants of the systems and/or methods can confer several benefitsand/or advantages.

First, variants of the method can include automatically generatinginsurance claim data, including first notice of loss (FNOL) messages(e.g., reports), to simplify and streamline handling and management ofinsurance claims. For example, the method can reduce the cost ofcollecting and organizing necessary information for an FNOL. The methodcan also enable timely provision of FNOLs to insurance entities (e.g.,agencies, agents, underwriters, etc.) by reducing and/or eliminating theneed for a human adjuster to assess the claim information. The methodcan also enable more accurate claim adjustment (e.g., by providing highquality data, such as video data, with the FNOL in order to determinecharacteristics of an adverse vehicle event leading to the FNOL such asaccident fault, severity, additional parties involved, behavior of thedriver, presence of injury of driver and/or other occupants, other riskevents leading up to or otherwise proximal in time to the collision,etc.).

Second, variants of the method can enable automatic identification ofparties involved in an adverse vehicle event (e.g., associatingparticipant or party identities or identifiers with insurance claimdata, simplifying and/or streamlining claim routing, enhancing claimrouting efficiency, etc.). The method can include identifying a driverof the vehicle (e.g., using an interior camera that records interiorvideo and/or images, using user profile data associated with the driver,using driver behavior signature pattern matching, etc.), identifying oneor more passengers of the vehicle (e.g., using anonymized ornon-anonymized interior imagery, data links with mobile devices ofvehicle passengers, etc.), identifying other vehicular participants inan adverse vehicle event (e.g., a second vehicle involved in a crashwith the primary vehicle, via exterior video data, image recognition,license-plate identification, etc.), identifying occupants of othervehicular participants of an adverse vehicle event (e.g., via facialrecognition algorithms implemented on exterior imagery collected by theprimary vehicle), and/or performing any suitable identification and/orrecognition.

Third, variants of the method can improve customer relations management(CRM) for insurance entities (e.g., companies, agencies, underwriters,etc.), for whom FNOL generation and receipt can be a time- andresource-intensive, customer-facing process. For example, the method caninclude providing insurance claim data (e.g., an FNOL) to an insuranceentity (e.g., a claims agent, an insurance provider, a representative ofan insurance provider, etc.) automatically, and with relevant vehicleevent data (e.g., collision data, fault statuses of one or moreparticipants in a collision or other loss event, etc.), with or withouta human manually submitting a claim (e.g., approving an FNOL submission,providing claim data to an application, etc.). In such variants, themethod can enable insurance entities to reduce claims processing time byhaving the requisite data for claim resolution provided automatically,and/or to reduce follow-up time to ensure accurate insurance claim data.In another example, the method can include comparing manually submittedclaims data (e.g., by an collision or adverse event participant)

Fourth, variants of the method can include automatically reportingvehicle events to various services (e.g., vehicle-history reportingservices, emergency services, insurance claim adjusters, etc.). Themethod can provide rich data to such services that enable the servicesto modify their responses to a vehicle event (e.g., crash severity,estimation of injury type and likelihood, vehicle telemetry data, etc.).

Fifth, variants of the method can enable interaction between an onboardvehicle system and a user device (e.g., a mobile device of the user, aportable computer of the user, etc.), which can facilitate efficientcollection and reporting of insurance claim data. For example, theonboard vehicle system can sample sensor data (e.g., of onboard vehiclesystem sensors) and process the sampled sensor data to determine anadverse vehicle event has occurred, automatically populate a report withinsurance claim data and tag the report with sensor data (e.g., videodata) from the adverse vehicle event, and transmit the report to a userdevice. At the user device, an application (e.g., a client applicationexecuting on the user device) can notify the user that an adverse eventhas occurred, request approval of the insurance claim data depicted bythe report, and/or perform any other suitable action. In anotherexample, the onboard vehicle system can utilize short-rangecommunication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth, BLE, etc.) to transfer data tothe user device, and the user device can utilize long-rangecommunication protocols (e.g., cellular radio transmission, wirelessinternet transmission, etc.) to transfer data to a remote computingsystem; in such examples, the user device can function as acommunication relay for the onboard vehicle system.

Sixth, variants of the method and system can enable determination of anadverse vehicle event using imagery exclusively (e.g., without auxiliarysensor input such as accelerometer data, audio data, etc.). For example,kinematic motion of the vehicle in which the onboard vehicle system isinstalled (e.g., the ego-vehicle) can be extracted from image data(e.g., video sequences, image streams, video streams, singe imageframes, etc.). Kinematic motion can include ego-vehicle acceleration anddeceleration, attitudinal shift (e.g., heading change, orientationchange, etc.), impact parameters (e.g., jerk, whiplash, bounce, impulse,and other parameters during or in. relation to impact of an object withthe ego-vehicle, etc.), and any other parameters or values that describethe motion of the vehicle. Using imagery can enable an image processingmodule to be used to determine vehicle event data, and the imageprocessing module can be locally or remotely located (e.g., and the sameor substantially similar processed output can be obtained). In examples,a population of vehicles having corresponding onboard vehicle systems,wherein each onboard vehicle system includes a substantially identicalcamera model (e.g., a camera defining the same or substantially similaroperating parameters such as resolution, effective shutter speed, colorresponse, etc.), can generate imagery data gathered under variousvehicle operating conditions that can then be analyzed using acentralized image processing module without the need to account fordiffering vehicle dynamics (e.g., vehicle dynamics may not affectrelevant properties of the image data, whereas vehicle dynamics mayaffect signal characteristics of inertial measurements). In relatedexamples, image data can be similarly unaffected by vehicle-specificdynamics in determining vehicle event data (e.g., adverse vehicle eventdata) for any individual vehicle (e.g., ego-vehicle).

Seventh, variants of the method allow insurance entities (e.g.,insurance providers) to automatically or manually pull informationsupporting a claim (e.g., video collected before, after, and/or during acollision) from the system (e.g., from remote computing system 800). Inone example, the insurance entities can request supporting informationfrom the system, wherein the request can include: a collision identifier(e.g., vehicle identifier, timestamp, geolocation, driver identifier),an access credential (e.g., an API key assigned to the entity), the typeof requested information, and/or any other suitable information.

However, the method, related systems, and variants thereof canadditionally or alternatively afford any other suitable benefits and/oradvantages.

3. Method

The method includes Block S100, which includes determining vehicle eventdata. Block S100 functions to obtain data (e.g., information, signals,sensor data, etc.) related to a vehicle event (e.g., describing avehicle event, during a vehicle event, subsequent to a vehicle event,prior to an imminent vehicle event, etc.) for use in other Blocks of themethod. Block S100 can also function to monitor vehicle operation and/ordriver behavior. Block S100 can also function to track vehicle usage.Determining vehicle data can include collecting vehicle sensor data,collecting vehicle identification data, determining driver behaviordata, and determining occupant data, as well as any other suitablesub-blocks. Block S100 can include extracting vehicle event data fromsensor data (e.g., via analyzing sensor data to determine vehicle eventparameters, event parameters, etc.). Sub-blocks of Block S100 can beconcurrently, sequentially, asynchronously, and/or otherwise suitablyperformed with any suitable temporal characteristics.

Block S100 is preferably performed by an onboard vehicle system coupledto the vehicle. The onboard vehicle system can include one or morecameras, an accelerometer, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), agyroscope, a GPS module, and any other suitable sensors. However, theonboard vehicle system can additionally or alternatively include anysuitable sensors, and omit any suitable sensors. In an example, theonboard vehicle system includes an imaging module that includes aninterior-facing camera and an exterior-facing camera, wherein theimaging module is installed at the dashboard of the vehicle (e.g.,coupled to the windshield proximal the dashboard, attached to a supportmember of the dashboard, mounted to the windshield proximal the rearviewmirror, etc.). In this example, the onboard vehicle system also includesa plurality of IMUs and a wireless communication link (e.g., to a mobiledevice associated with a vehicle occupant, to an onboard diagnosticmodule/OBD module coupled to the vehicle, etc.). In another example, theonboard vehicle system includes only image sensors (e.g., cameras,optical sensors, etc., without any inertial or other auxiliary sensors),a wireless communication link, and a processing system (e.g., includinga processor, onboard memory, any other suitable computing components,etc.). However, the onboard vehicle system can include any othersuitable components.

Determining vehicle event data is preferably performed substantiallycontinuously (e.g., continuously sampling). For example, the onboardvehicle system of the vehicle can continuously record interior andexterior video imagery and maintain a rolling buffer (e.g., a 10 minutebuffer, a 20 minute buffer, a five hour buffer, an adjustable buffer,any suitable buffer, etc.). In a related example, determining vehicleevent data can include storing gathered sensor data (e.g., losslesslystoring uncompressed data, storing in a lossy manner via compression,storing all gathered sensor data, storing some gathered sensor data,etc.) on-board the vehicle, and/or transmitting sensor data (e.g., videoimagery) off-board the vehicle. In alternatives, determining vehicleevent data can be performed in response to user input (e.g., in responseto activating a record button of the onboard vehicle system),periodically (e.g., once per minute, once per second, any suitableperiodicity), and/or asynchronously. However, determining vehicle eventdata can include gathering, transferring, and/or otherwise manipulatingvehicle event data with any suitable temporal characteristics.

In relation to Block S100, sensor data can be captured and/or sampled inresponse to a trigger. For example, Block S100 can include sampling anaccelerometer signal from an accelerometer of the onboard vehicle system(e.g., substantially continuously, periodically during vehicleoperation, etc.), and triggering data capture (e.g., image datasampling, video capture, etc.) when the accelerometer signal exceeds a.threshold value (e.g., corresponding to a rapid acceleration, headingdeviation, deceleration, etc.). The threshold value can be predetermined(e.g., based on historical behavior), dynamically determined (e.g.,based on present vehicle speed and/or heading, based on present vehicleacceleration, etc.), and/or otherwise suitably determined.

Sampling data in response to a trigger can function to allow adversevehicle events to be determined in unexpected situations (e.g., inenvironments that can be difficult to continuously monitor, when theego-vehicle is behaving nominally and a secondary vehicle collides withit, etc.). For example, in variations wherein the onboard vehicle systemincludes an accelerometer, Block S100 can include sampling anaccelerometer signal from the accelerometer at a time point prior to thetime interval in which an adverse vehicle event occurs (e.g., asideswipe of the ego-vehicle by a passing vehicle, a perpendicularcollision of a secondary vehicle into the ego-vehicle in anintersection, etc.), and sampling the interior image data and theexterior image data in response to the accelerometer signal exceeding athreshold value (e.g., when onset of the unexpected adverse vehicleevent causes the accelerometer signal to exceed a threshold value, rateof change, etc.). In such variations, the interior and/or exterior imagedata can be continuously collected and overwritten in a buffer andsampled from an interval based on the trigger (e.g., an accelerometersignal-based trigger, any other suitable trigger, etc.), collectedasynchronously in response to the trigger (e.g., wherein imagerecordation occurs subsequent to trigger determination or receipt),and/or collected in any other suitable manner.

In a specific implementation in accordance with Block S100, theego-vehicle can be parked (e.g., positioned in a parking space andstationary) and be involved in a collision with a moving secondaryvehicle at a time point. Contemporaneously with the time point, theaccelerometer signal can exceed a threshold value as a result of thecollision (e.g., wherein the accelerometer is operable in a low-powerstandby mode and substantially instantaneously awakened by amovement-sensitive switch in response to the collision), and triggerimage recordation by the onboard vehicle system (e.g., to enableparticipant identifiers, such as those corresponding to the secondaryvehicle, to be determined, and for insurance claim data such as an FNOLto be automatically generated and transmitted to an endpoint such as aninsurer of the ego-vehicle).

Collecting vehicle sensor data functions to obtain data from sensors ofthe vehicle (e.g., in-built sensors, third-party sensors). Collectedsensor data can include video data (e.g., from a forward and/or rearwardfacing vehicle camera, a dashboard-mounted camera with inward and/oroutward facing cameras, a windshield-mounted onboard vehicle system,etc.), inertial data, location data, and other suitable data. Collectedsensor data can optionally include data (e.g., exterior video, kinematicdata, etc.) collected by a second or third vehicle, such as the othervehicle in the collision or adverse event, a vehicle proximal thecollision site, or any other suitable vehicle. Collected sensor data canalso include extracted parameters and/or characteristics of video andother sensor data, such as information regarding nearby objects (e.g.,object classification, object trajectories, speeds, velocities, etc.),elapsed driving time, and other suitable extracted data. Collectedsensor data can also include environmental data (e.g., weather data,temperature data, precipitation data, wind speed data, visibility data,etc.). However, collecting vehicle sensor data can otherwise includecollecting any suitable sensor data in any suitable manner.

Collecting vehicle identification data functions to determine the uniquevehicle(s) (e.g., participants, parties, etc.) involved in a vehicleevent (e.g., an adverse vehicle event, a collision, etc.). The uniquevehicles can include the vehicle in which the onboard vehicle system isinstalled (e.g., the ego-vehicle), but can additionally or alternativelyinclude surrounding vehicles. Unique vehicles involved in a vehicleevent can include event participants and/or identifiers thereof (e.g.,participant identifiers). Vehicle identification data can include: avehicle identification number (VIN), vehicle licensing information(e.g., license plate number, taxicab number, livery number, rideshareidentification number, etc.), a vehicle maintenance history report,insurer information (e.g., insurer name, policy holder, policyunderwriter, etc.), visually apparent vehicle features (e.g., vehiclecolor, vehicle markings, vehicle shape, visible vehicle components,etc.), and any other suitable data intrinsic to a particular vehicle orvehicles. Vehicle identification data can be collected in any suitablemanner, including by associating a user device with vehicleidentification data in a database (e.g., a remote database), receivingvehicle identification entered manually by a user (e.g., at anapplication executing on a mobile device of a user associated with thevehicle), retrieving vehicle identification from a remote database(e.g., from an API based on VIN lookup), identifying a vehicleidentifier pre-associated with the onboard vehicle system, and/or in anyother suitable manner.

In a specific example, Block S100 can include sampling sensor data overa time interval using an onboard vehicle system rigidly coupled to anego-vehicle (e.g., to an inner surface of the windshield of theego-vehicle). In a related specific example, Block S100 includessampling interior image data over a time interval using aninterior-facing camera of an onboard vehicle system rigidly coupled toan ego-vehicle, and contemporaneously sampling exterior image data overthe time interval using an exterior-facing camera of the onboard vehiclesystem. In these examples, the image data is sampled from a monocularcamera; however, in alternative examples, the image data canadditionally or alternatively be sampled from any suitable camera orimage sensor (e.g., a stereocamera, an ambient light sensor, amulti-spectral camera, etc.).

Collecting driver behavior data functions to obtain informationindicative of driver behavior (e.g., driver of the vehicle) associatedwith a vehicular event. Driver behavior data can include video data(e.g., from a camera pointing inwards toward the occupants of thevehicle including the driver, passengers, etc., from a front facingcamera, from an IMU, etc.), extracted parameters and/or characteristicsof imagery and other data (e.g., distraction level from eye movements,distraction level from mobile device use frequency while vehicle ismoving, tailgating behavior, etc.), and any other suitable data. In aspecific example, determining driver behavior includes determining abehavioral risk score based on an analytical model of driver behaviorcorrelated with adverse vehicle event occurrence (e.g., collected frominstances of the method implemented on a population of vehicles anddrivers, stored and retrieved historic data, etc.). However, collectingdriver behavior data can include collecting any suitable data related todriver behaviors in any other suitable manner.

Collecting driver behavior data in accordance with variations of BlockS100 can include determining driver behavior data based on sensormeasurements (e.g., sampled sensor streams, captured sensor data, etc.).In relation to collecting driver behavior data, Block S100 can includeextracting driver behavior data from image data. The driver behaviordata can correspond to a driver of the ego-vehicle, a driver of anothervehicle (e.g., a participant in an adverse vehicle event, a collision,etc.). In a first variation, driver behavior data is collected using oneor more cameras, including an interior-facing camera. The interiorcamera's field of view preferably includes all or a portion of thedriver's head, and can optionally include all or a portion of thepassenger-side volume (e.g., the passenger's body or head), all or aportion of the rear seats, all or a portion of the rear window, thedriver's side window(s), the passenger side window(s), or include anyother suitable portion of the vehicle interior. The image(s) can be usedto optically identify and/or track the driver's head position, headmovement, eye position (e.g., gaze direction), eye movement, parametersthereof (e.g., duration, angle, etc.), or determine any other suitabledistraction factor value. The image(s) can additionally be used todetermine the driving context, such as whether there is a passenger inthe vehicle or where the passenger is located, the environment aroundthe vehicle visible through the vehicle windows, and/or any othersuitable context derivable from the image(s). The image(s) canadditionally be used to verify or validate other determinations ofdriver behavior. For example, driver interaction with a user device(e.g., phone) can be verified when the user device is present in theconcurrently recorded image. The image can be a visual spectrum image,hyperspectral image, IR image, or be sampled at any other suitablewavelength. The image can be recorded using ambient light, light emittedby a light emitter (e.g., from an LED flash, etc.), or using any othersuitable light source. The image can be a stereoimage (e.g., recorded bya stereocamera), a two dimensional image (e.g., recorded by a monocularcamera), a single image, or be any other suitable image.

In a second variation of Block S100, the sensor measurements includecabin audio (e.g., vehicle interior noise), which can be sampled by theaudio sensor arranged proximal the driver's volume (e.g., integratedwith the onboard system, part of a user device associated with thedriver, etc.) or otherwise sampled. The cabin audio can be used to inferthe driver head position, the driving context (e.g., whether the driveris calm, whether there is a child in the vehicle, etc.), or be otherwiseused. The cabin audio preferably includes driver audio, and canoptionally include passenger-side audio, rear-seat audio, vehicle audio(e.g., generated by the vehicle), road noise, radio audio, notificationaudio, or any other suitable audio stream. The cabin audio can be asingle stream (e.g., recorded by a single audio sensor), multiplestreams (e.g., recorded by multiple collocated or distal audio sensors,wherein the cabin audio is recorded in stereo, etc.), or include anysuitable number of audio streams.

In a third variation of Block S100, the sensor measurements include userdevice operation parameters, which can be determined by a user deviceassociated with the user or otherwise determined. User device operationparameters can include the user device's: processing load (e.g., asdetermined from an activity monitor, the CPU load, the GPU load, etc.),processing load changes, power consumption, touch input operation,sensor measurements, or any other suitable set of operation parameters.User device sensor measurements can include user device kinematics,pressure, temperature, ambient light obstruction, or any other suitableparameter measurement indicative of driver interaction with the userdevice. The user device operation parameters can be determined by one ormore clients (e.g., applications, SDKs on multiple applications, etc.)running on the user device, or be otherwise determined. In one exampleof the variation, processing load increases can be indicative of userinteraction with the user device. In a second example of the variation,touch input operation can be indicative of user entering data into theuser device. In a third example of the variation, user device vibrationcan be indicative of the user device being knocked by the user. In afourth example, user device translation can be indicative of the userdevice being lifted or picked up by the user. In a fifth example, anincrease in the sampled user device ambient pressure or temperature canbe indicative of the user device being held. However, any other suitableuser device parameter can be monitored for user interaction with theuser device.

In a fourth variation of Block S100, the sensor measurements include animage or video (e.g., set of images) of the vehicle exterior, which canbe sampled by the outward-facing camera directed toward the front of thevehicle (e.g., through the front windshield) or otherwise sampled. Thecamera's field of view preferably includes all or a portion of theroadway oriented toward the front the vehicle (e.g., the foregroundtoward the front of the vehicle, the lane in which the vehicle ismoving, the adjacent lane or lanes, etc.), and can optionally includethe region(s) to the sides of the vehicle (e.g., the driver's side, thepassenger's side), to the rear of the vehicle, above the vehicle (e.g.,through a sunroof and/or moon-roof), or include any other suitableportion of the environment outside the vehicle. The image(s) can be usedto optically identify and/or track the vehicle's position within theenvironment (e.g., localize the vehicle), position within a lane,position relative to other objects (e.g., vehicles, pedestrians, etc.),or determine any other suitable parameter value. The image(s) canadditionally be used to determine the driving context, such as whetherthere is a second vehicle in front of or beside the vehicle in which thesensor is emplaced. The image(s) can additionally be used to determine,verify, and/or validate other determinations of driver behavior. Forexample, driver attentiveness can be measured based on an amount and/orfrequency of lateral drifting within a lane of the roadway. Driftingwithin a lane can be based on vehicle path extraction (e.g., extractionof the vehicle trajectory from the image or images) and comparison tolane markers extracted from images of the road. The image can be avisual spectrum image, hyperspectral image, IR image, or be sampled atany other suitable wavelength. The image can be recorded using ambientlight, light emitted by a light emitter (e.g., from an LED flash, etc.),or using any other suitable light source. The image can be a stereoimage(e.g., recorded by a stereocamera), a single image, or be any othersuitable image.

In a fifth variation of Block S100, the sensor measurements include akinematic signal. The kinematic signal is preferably indicative of akinematic variable of the vehicle (e.g., acceleration, velocity,position, jerk, etc.), but can additionally or alternatively beindicative of any suitable motion variable associated with the vehicleand/or vehicle occupants (e.g., the driver, a passenger, etc.). Thekinematic signal is preferably collected by a kinematic measurementmechanism (e.g., inertial measurement unit) of the onboard system, butcan additionally or alternatively be collected by any other suitablecomponent. In a first example, the sensor measurements include anaccelerometer output of an inertial measurement unit of the onboardsystem. However, the sensor measurements can otherwise include anysuitable kinematic signal, vehicle information (e.g., steering wheelposition, pedal position), indicator, or other information.

In variations, collecting driver behavior data and/or distraction datain accordance with Block S100 can include determining driver distractionsubstantially as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/805,348, filed 16 Jan. 2018, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by this reference. However, in additional or alternativevariations, driver behavior and/or distraction can be otherwise suitablydetermined.

Determining occupant data functions to collect data that is intrinsic tothe driver and/or passenger(s) of the vehicle. Determining occupant datacan include determining occupant data based on image processing appliedto imagery from an internal facing camera (e.g., performing facialrecognition on an image of the cabin of the vehicle). In a specificexample, image processing applied to imagery can include automaticallyanonymizing the image data using an iterative algorithm in which theimage data is iteratively blurred for an increasing number of frames ofa video sequence until facial recognition on the blurred image fails.Determining occupant data can also include counting a number of vehicleoccupants (e.g., determining a number of occupants), counting a numberof passengers of the vehicle (e.g., as distinct from a driver of thevehicle), determining the vehicle's or driver's insured status, ordetermining any other suitable data. Determining occupant data caninclude determining identifying data pertaining to occupants of thevehicle (e.g., of the driver), which can include a license number, aregistration number, an occupant identity (e.g., name), other occupantidentifying info (e.g., address, phone number, sex, gender, height,weight, eye color, hair color, etc.), insurance policy number, and/orany other suitable occupant identifying data. Occupant identifying datacan be collected in any suitable manner, including by retrievingoccupant identifying data from a database associated with a user accountof the occupant, manually input by an occupant, automatically determinedusing facial recognition algorithms and associated third party databases(e.g., social media databases), and/or in any other suitable manner.Determining occupant data is preferably based on image data (e.g.,sampled from one or more cameras of the onboard vehicle system), but canadditionally or alternatively be based on other sensor data (e.g., suchas via automatically determining a number of occupants based on a numberof different voices detected in a sampled audio stream of cabin sound).

In relation to determining occupant data, Block S100 can includedetermining a number of occupants based extracted participantidentifiers. In examples, extracting one or more participant identifierscan include extracting participant identifiers related to multipleparticipants within a single vehicle (e.g., occupants), and counting thenumber of unique participant identifiers determined (e.g., based onfacial recognition of multiple faces in an interior image data frame).Additionally or alternatively, identifying characteristics besides thenumber of occupants can be determined (e.g., identifying data asdescribed above). Determining occupant data is preferably performedwithin a time interval (e.g., contemporaneously with a time interval inwhich vehicle event data is determined), but can additionally oralternatively be performed outside the time interval (e.g., before avehicle event occurs, proximal in time to the beginning of a drivingsession, or after a vehicle event occurs, immediately subsequent to thedetermination of an adverse vehicle event to determine who was involvedin the adverse vehicle event occurrence, etc.), and/or at any othersuitable time. Determining occupant data is preferably performed withrespect to the ego-vehicle, but can additionally or alternatively beperformed in relation to other vehicles (e.g., a vehicle involved in acollision or other adverse vehicle event with the ego-vehicle); forexample, Block S100 can include determining a number of occupants of asecondary vehicle that is involved in a head-on collision with theego-vehicle, and utilize the number of occupants in further blocks ofthe method (e.g., in automatically contacting emergency services with areport of a total number of likely injured persons, demographic dataregarding the injured persons, etc.).

In variations, Block S100 can include extracting vehicle event data fromsensor data (e.g., image data). For example, Block S100 can includeextracting vehicle event data from the interior image data and theexterior image data (e.g., using a processor of the onboard vehiclesystem). The vehicle event data thus extracted is preferably associatedwith a vehicle event occurring within a time interval (e.g., wherein thetime interval is determined automatically in response to a trigger,wherein the time interval is a periodic time interval of any suitableduration, etc.); however, the event data can additionally oralternatively be associated with a vehicle event occurring outside thetime interval and/or be extracted in response to a trigger (e.g.,directly subsequent to trigger detection). Extracting the vehicle eventdata can include extracting a set of event parameters, wherein variousevent parameters define aspects (e.g., quantifiable aspects, qualitativeaspects, etc.) of the vehicle event. For example, extracting the set ofevent parameters can include extracting: a plurality of participantidentifiers (e.g., wherein each event participant identifier can beassociated with insurance policy data corresponding to a participant inthe vehicle event); an acceleration (e.g., average acceleration, peakacceleration, etc.) of the ego-vehicle (e.g., during the time interval);an attitudinal shift (e.g., peak attitudinal shift, average attitudinalshift, total orientation change, average angular motion, etc.) of theego-vehicle (e.g., during the time interval); and any other parametersassociated with the vehicle event.

Block S100 can include extracting event parameters from image data(e.g., exclusively from image data without any auxiliary data). Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5, Block S100 can include extracting theattitudinal shift (e.g., peak attitudinal shift) of the ego-vehicle bydetermining a first position of each object depicted in a first frame(e.g., of exterior image data, at a first time point, within a timeinterval, etc.), determining a second position of each object depictedin a second frame (e.g., of the exterior image data, at a second timepoint, subsequently within the time interval, etc.), and calculating theattitudinal shift of the ego-vehicle based on a comparison between thefirst position of each object and the second position of each object(e.g., by determining the magnitude of the shift of each object withinthe image frame, and calculating the peak attitudinal shift by takingthe shift corresponding to the greatest magnitude out of each of theobject). In this example, the position of each object can be defined inthree dimensions (e.g., in three dimensional space surrounding theego-vehicle) and extracted using a method for 3D reconstruction (e.g., atrained position classifier, an inverse rendering technique, etc.);however, the position of each object can additionally or alternativelybe defined in two dimensions (e.g., relative to a boundary of the frame,relative to a projected plane on which the ego-vehicle is located, etc.)and the shift in position can be a projected shift (e.g., a projectionof the three dimensional object displacement onto two dimensions) and/orotherwise suitably defined.

In another example of extracting event parameters from image data, BlockS100 can include extracting the peak acceleration of the ego-vehicle bydetermining a first velocity of each object depicted in the first frame(e.g., of exterior image data, at a first time point, over a firstsub-interval of a time interval defined by two or more frames, etc.);determining a second velocity of each object depicted in the secondframe (e.g., of exterior image data, at a second time point, over asecond sub-interval of a time interval subsequent to the firstsub-interval, etc.); and, calculating the peak acceleration of theego-vehicle based on a comparison between the first velocity of eachobject and the second velocity of each object. In this example, thevelocity of each object wherein can be defined in three dimensions(e.g., relative to the ego-vehicle), and determined using a method for3D time-resolved event reconstruction (e.g., as described above, usingany other suitable technique, etc.); however, the velocity of eachobject can additionally or alternatively be defined in two dimensions(e.g., relative to a frame boundary, relative to a projected planeoccupied by the ego-vehicle, etc.) and/or otherwise suitably defined.

The method includes Block S200, which recites: analyzing vehicle eventdata to generate an event analysis. Block S200 functions to determinewhether a vehicle event (e.g., vehicular event) that occurred was anadverse vehicle event (e.g., a vehicle event resulting in damage, theft,and/or loss of the vehicle, injury to an occupant of the vehicle, asubstantial likelihood of damage, theft, and/or loss of the vehicle,and/or a substantial likelihood of injury to an occupant of the vehicle,etc.), and can optionally classify the event, determine the severity ofan adverse vehicle event, or determine other event characteristics.Block S200 can also function to reconstruct and/or extract aspects(e.g., characteristics, parameters) of the adverse vehicle event for usein subsequent Blocks of the method (e.g., vehicle orientations, vehicletrajectories, vehicle locations, the aforementioned information as afunction of time and/or space, etc.). The event analysis generated as aresult of analyzing the vehicle event data preferably includes thedetermination of whether the vehicle event was an adverse vehicle event,but can additionally or alternatively include any suitable determinedattributes of the vehicle event data.

Block S200 is preferably performed by a remote computing system, and canthus include transmitting vehicle event data to a remote computingsystem for analysis. Alternatively, Block S200 can be performed in adistributed fashion, distributed between a remote computing system and alocal computing system (e.g., a mobile device, a vehicle computer,vehicle computing unit, electronic control unit, etc.). In a specificexample of Block S200, a local computing system at the vehicle selectsvehicle event data based on matching a pattern exhibited by the vehicleevent data with a corresponding pattern of a set of predeterminedpatterns, and transmits the selected data to a remote computing systemthat implements a set of rules (e.g., derived from a machine learningmodel) on the received selected data. However, Block S200 can beotherwise suitably performed in a contiguous and/or distributed mannerat any suitable computing system(s) in any suitable location(s).

Block S200 is preferably performed continuously (e.g., in real- ornear-real time as data is collected), but can additionally oralternatively be performed upon detection of a trigger event (e.g., arapid change in vehicle telemetry), asynchronously, periodically, orwith any other suitable temporal characteristics. Block S200 ispreferably implemented, at least in part, using a synthetic neuralnetwork (e.g., a convolutional neural network/CNN), but can additionallyor alternatively be wholly or partially implemented using a Bayesian,deterministic, probabilistic, stochastic, and/or classification-basedmodel, and/or any other suitable computational model. In a firstvariation, Block S200 includes matching a combination of sampledmeasurement values to a predetermined pattern, wherein the predeterminedpattern is indicative of an adverse vehicle event. In a specific exampleof this variation, Block S200 includes performing a curve fittingprocedure on a curve of acceleration versus time to identify a set ofcurve features (e.g., peaks, troughs, slopes, etc.) known to correspondto a head-on collision (e.g., a curve that includes a rapid directionchange with a crumple-zone reversal, as shown in FIG. 2). In a secondvariation, Block S200 includes determining that a first sensormeasurement (e.g., an accelerometer measurement) satisfies a condition(e.g., surpasses a threshold value), triggering an analysis of a secondsensor measurement (e.g., video data collected proximal in time to thefirst sensor measurement) upon determining that the first sensormeasurement satisfies the condition, and determining that an adversevehicle event has occurred based on the second sensor measurement. In athird variation, Block S200 includes continuously classifying acombination of sampled measurement values (e.g., obtained via a shiftingsampling time window of any suitable time range), and determining thatan adverse vehicle event has occurred and characteristics of the adversevehicle event based on the combination of sampled measurement values. Ina fourth variation, Block 200 includes ingesting vehicle sensor data(e.g., airbag sensors, etc.) and/or monitoring for vehicle subsystemoperation associated with adverse events (e.g., airbag deployment). In afifth variation, Block 200 includes detecting the adverse vehicle eventfrom the external-facing video, such as by detecting an object less thana threshold distance from the vehicle or camera, detecting a newlycrumpled hood in the frame, or detecting other visual fiducials.However, Block S200 can include otherwise analyzing the vehicle eventdata in any other suitable manner.

Block S200 can optionally include determining a false positive, whichfunctions to identify vehicle events that were initially determined tobe an adverse vehicle event but have a substantial likelihood of being anominal vehicle event. For example, Block S200 can include implementinga set of rules using the sensor data as an input and extracting aprobability that the sensor data corresponded to a nominal vehicle event(e.g., closing a trunk lid) and not to an adverse vehicle event, anddetermining that the vehicle event is not an adverse vehicle event basedon the probability exceeding a predetermined probability threshold.

Block S200 can optionally include determining characteristics of theadverse vehicle event based on the analysis of the collected sensordata. Determining characteristics of the adverse vehicle event caninclude segmenting of vehicle event types (e.g., between majorcollisions and minor collisions, high speed collisions and low speedcollisions, etc.) into any suitable number of segments. Determiningcharacteristics can also include determining a likelihood (e.g.,probability) of injury to vehicle occupants and/or other entitiesinvolved in an adverse vehicle event. A likelihood of injury can bedetermined based on any suitable vehicle data, such as data indicativeof airbag deployment (e.g., coupled with determined occupant bodyweightand/or height data), occupant medical history, a predictive model thatassociates vehicle event data with injury type and/or likelihood, and/orany other suitable data.

Block S200 can include determining a fault status associated with thedriver. The fault status preferably defines the responsibility of one ormore participants in an adverse vehicle event; for example, Block S200can include determining that a driver that rear ends a leading vehiclewithout any extenuating circumstances (e.g., such as the leading vehicledriving unsafely) is “solely at fault.” The fault status can include:sole responsibility, wherein a single party or participant bears totalfault for the occurrence of an adverse event; partial responsibility(e.g., wherein the driver failed to take reasonable actions that mayhave reduced a severity of an adverse event but did not cause theadverse event, wherein two or more drivers independently took actionsthat together caused a collision or other adverse vehicle event, etc.);no-fault or no responsibility (e.g., wherein the driver could notreasonably have taken any action to avoid or reduce the severity of anadverse vehicle event); and any other suitable designation of fault orresponsibility. The determination of the fault status is preferablybased on driver behavior data (e.g., extracted or otherwise suitablydetermined in one or more variations of Block S100); however, data onwhich to base the determination of fault status can be any othersuitable data (e.g., collected in accordance with one or more variationsof Block S100).

A specific implementation of Block S200 includes detecting a trigger(e.g., a velocity change exceeding a predetermined threshold), uploadingvehicle event data to a remote computing system, and analyzing theuploaded vehicle event data at the remote computing system. Detectingthe trigger can include determining a time period roughly centered atthe time point of trigger detection, and selecting the vehicle datadetermined in Block S100 within the determined time period. The timeperiod can be an adjustable time period (e.g., based on queriessubmitted at a later time point from an insurance claim entity such asan agent, after reviewing received insurance claim data), a fixed timeperiod, and/or any other suitable time period. In a first variation ofthis specific implementation, uploading the vehicle event data can bebased on the detected trigger (e.g., uploading when the trigger isdetected). In a second variation of this specific implementation,uploading the vehicle event data can be performed continuously (e.g.,can include continuously streaming vehicle data to a remote computingsystem). However, uploading can be otherwise performed with any suitabletemporal characteristics (e.g., asynchronously, periodically, etc.). Inthis specific implementation, analyzing the uploaded vehicle event datacan include analyzing inertial data (e.g., gathered using an IMU of aninstallable onboard vehicle system) and video data (e.g., gathered usingone or more cameras of an installable onboard vehicle system). Analyzingthe uploaded vehicle event data can optionally include determining afalse positive, and can further include storing the contextual datasurrounding the false positive for subsequent retrieval and future falsepositive determination.

Block S200 can include determining a loss probability based on one ormore event parameters (e.g., extracted or otherwise suitably determinedin accordance with one or more variations of Block S100). In variations,Block S200 can include calculating a loss probability based on anego-vehicle acceleration and an ego-vehicle attitudinal shift (e.g.,extracted from sensor data, determined based on image data, determinedin accordance with one or more variations of Block S100, etc.). Inrelated variations, Block S200 can additionally or alternatively includecalculating a loss probability based on acceleration and/or attitudinalshift of secondary vehicles that are participants in the adverse vehicleevent (e.g., denoted by participant identifiers).

In variations, calculating the loss probability can be performed usingan adverse vehicle event model that receives an acceleration (e.g., apeak acceleration, an average acceleration, etc.) and/or an attitudinalshift (e.g., a peak attitudinal shift, an average angular orientationchange over a time interval, etc.) as inputs and produces a probabilityof property loss as an output (e.g., a loss probability) based oninsurance claim data (e.g., historical data, gathered population data,etc.). The model can additionally or alternatively produce aprobability-weighted cost estimate as an output (e.g., an expected valueof a repair and/or replacement cost). The adverse vehicle event modelcan be a trained machine learning model, wherein the model is trainedbased on a corpus of event parameters (e.g., extracted from vehicleevent data corresponding to vehicle events experienced by a populationof ego-vehicles, as well as corresponding insurance claim dataassociated with the events experienced by the population ofego-vehicles.). In one example, the adverse vehicle event model can betrained on claim outcomes pulled from an insurance provider (e.g., totalcost, such as losses or expenses; time to closure; cost by category,such as personal injury or property damage; etc.), wherein the adversevehicle event model can predict loss amounts based on collision type(e.g., class) and collision context (e.g., driving context). In aspecific example, the adverse vehicle event model can identify historicclaims with similar collision type and collision context, and determinea predicted loss for an instantaneous claim based on the similarhistoric claims. The loss type associated with the loss probability canbe property loss (e.g., vehicle loss, vehicle damage, objects damaged bythe vehicle over the course of the adverse event, etc.), personal injuryloss (e.g., occupant death, occupant injury, etc.), and any othersuitable loss. However, the adverse vehicle event model can additionallyor alternatively include any other suitable model (e.g., a deterministicmodel, a set of equations, a probabilistic model, a lookup table, etc.)otherwise implemented in any other suitable manner.

The method includes Block S300, which recites: automatically generatinginsurance claim data based on the determined adverse vehicle event.Block S300 functions to organize information necessary for preparingand/or filing (e.g., submitting) an insurance claim to an insuranceentity (e.g., an insurance underwriter, an insurance agency, aninsurance agent, a third party claims administrator, any other suitableentities related to the main customer insurance entity, etc.). BlockS300 can also function to provide rich data (e.g., audio, video,environmental, dynamic, static, and/or any other suitable data)associated with an adverse vehicle event to enable claim value (e.g.,monetary value) to be accurately assessed by a user (e.g., an insuranceclaim agent). Block S300 can include compiling vehicle event data,compiling auxiliary data, and estimating claim costs (e.g., monetarycosts). Block S300 is preferably performed by a remote computing system(e.g., the remote computing system by which Block S200 can beperformed), but can additionally or alternatively be performed by thevehicle computing system (e.g., vehicle computer, processor of a mobiledevice associated with the vehicle and/or a vehicle occupant, etc.).Block S300 can include retrieving any suitable data (e.g., vehicle eventdata, intrinsic vehicle data, occupant data, etc.) from any suitableonboard vehicle system and/or computing system associated with thevehicle. In further alternatives, Block S300 can be performed in adistributed fashion (e.g., an insurance claim data template can begenerated at a vehicle computing system and populated at a remotecomputing system, or vice versa), and/or otherwise performed at anysuitable location(s).

In one variation, Block 300 includes: classifying the vehicle event(e.g., degree of severity, whether the event or event class requires ahuman claims adjustor or can be sent to an automated adjustor system,the fault status, the injury probability, etc.), automatically selectingone or more insurance claims (e.g., insurance forms) to fill out basedon the vehicle event class, automatically selecting an endpoint for theinsurance claim, and automatically transmitting the insurance claim tothe endpoint. In a specific example, the method can include selecting,filling out, and sending a first insurance claim to an automatic claimssystem in response to vehicle event classification as a first classassociated with automatic claims adjustment (e.g., a rear-end collisionwith known insurers), and include selecting, filling out, and sending asecond insurance claim to a human claims system in response to vehicleevent classification as a second class associated with human claimsadjustment (e.g., a hit-and-run collision). However, the claims can beotherwise determined and routed.

Compiling vehicle event data functions to organize the determinedcharacteristics of the adverse vehicle event determined in Block S200.Compiling the vehicle event data can include retrieving video data ofthe vehicle exterior, vehicle interior, and/or any other suitablelocation collected by the onboard vehicle system proximal in time to atime point of the determined adverse vehicle event. Compiling thevehicle event data can also include retrieving some or all the telemetrydata collected proximal in time to the time point of the determinedadverse vehicle event (e.g., OBD II port data), retrieving the insurancenumber (e.g., policy number, insured name, etc.). However, compilingvehicle event data can include receiving, retrieving, and/or otherwisesuitably determining the vehicle event data in any suitable manner.

Compiling auxiliary data functions to organize other data related to thevehicle and/or other entity associated with the determined adversevehicle event. Auxiliary data can include vehicle data (e.g., asdescribed above in relation to Blocks S100 and S200), occupant data(e.g., as described above in relation to Blocks S100 and S200), and anyother suitable data (e.g., location data, timestamp, historical data,etc.) associated with one or more characteristics of the adverse vehicleevent (e.g., such as a medical history of an occupant, to be combinedwith an estimated crash severity to determine the likelihood of alegitimate medical injury claim; a maintenance history of the vehicle,to be combined with a determined component failure that caused anadverse vehicle event; visual data characterizing injury of the driverand/or other occupant, to be combined with determined severity of thevehicle event and/or a responsive action to contact emergency services;any other suitable characteristics; etc.).

Estimating claim costs functions to determine, based on the adversevehicle event determined in Block S200, the expected cost related to theadverse vehicle event. The expected cost can include monetary costs,such as those associated with repair, medical treatment, and any othersuitable costs associated with adverse vehicle events. The expected costcan include time cost, such as an expected repair time (e.g., a timeperiod wherein the vehicle will be inoperable), treatment time (e.g., anexpected healing time for an injury type determined to be likely inBlock S200), and any other suitable time costs associated with adversevehicle events. The expected costs can be estimated based on models(e.g., one or more machine learning models) that accept vehicle eventdata and auxiliary data as inputs, a lookup table, a deterministic setof rules, and/or on any other suitable basis. In variations, theestimation models can be trained on historic insurance claim data, claimadjuster labelled vehicle event data, and/or any other suitable trainingdata. In a specific example, Block S300 can include estimating a claimcost based on the loss probability and the fault status (e.g.,determined in accordance with one or more variations of Block S200). Invariations, Block S300 can include estimating a claim cost based atleast one of the loss probability, the fault status, the presence ofinjury (e.g., of one or more occupants of the vehicle, the driver,etc.), probability of litigation, probability of claim challenge (e.g,in a court, by an insurer, by any other related entity, etc.), and anyother suitable basis. However, Block S300 can additionally oralternatively include otherwise suitably estimating the monetary cost ofan insurance claim, an FNOL, and/or associated insurance claim data.

Block S300 can be performed in response to a loss probability (e.g.,determined in accordance with one or more variations of Block S200)exceeding a threshold probability. In variations, Block S300 can includetransforming the set of event parameters and the fault status for eachof the plurality of participant identifiers into insurance claim data inresponse to the loss probability exceeding a threshold probability. In aspecific example, transforming the event parameters and the faultstatuses into the insurance claim data can include: determining that theevent parameters correspond to an adverse vehicle event that includes atotaling of the vehicle (e.g., based on an estimated claim cost,determined based on the loss probability) and a “no-fault” fault statusof the vehicle driver, and generating an insurance claim that indicatesa totaling of the insured vehicle and that the driver was not at fault.

In examples, Block S300 and/or other portions of the method (e.g., BlockS100, Block S200, etc.) can employ machine learning approaches includingany one or more of: supervised learning (e.g., using logisticregression, using back propagation neural networks, using randomforests, decision trees, etc.), unsupervised learning (e.g., using an apriori algorithm, using K-means clustering), semi-supervised learning,reinforcement learning (e.g., using a Q-learning algorithm, usingtemporal difference learning), a regression algorithm (e.g., ordinaryleast squares, logistic regression, stepwise regression, multivariateadaptive regression splines, locally estimated scatterplot smoothing,etc.), an instance-based method (e.g., k-nearest neighbor, learningvector quantization, self-organizing map, etc.), a regularization method(e.g., ridge regression, least absolute shrinkage and selectionoperator, elastic net, etc.), a decision tree learning method (e.g.,classification and regression tree, iterative dichotomiser 3, C4.5,chi-squared automatic interaction detection, decision stump, randomforest, multivariate adaptive regression splines, gradient boostingmachines, etc.), a Bayesian method (e.g., naïve Bayes, averagedone-dependence estimators, Bayesian belief network, etc.), a kernelmethod (e.g., a support vector machine, a radial basis function, alinear discriminate analysis, etc.), a clustering method (e.g., k-meansclustering, expectation maximization, etc.), an associated rule learningalgorithm (e.g., an a priori algorithm, an Eclat algorithm, etc.), anartificial neural network model (e.g., a Perceptron method, aback-propagation method, a Hopfield network method, a self-organizingmap method, a learning vector quantization method, etc.), a deeplearning algorithm (e.g., a restricted Boltzmann machine, a deep beliefnetwork method, a convolution network method, a stacked auto-encodermethod, etc.), a dimensionality reduction method (e.g., principalcomponent analysis, partial lest squares regression, Sammon mapping,multidimensional scaling, projection pursuit, etc.), an ensemble method(e.g., boosting, boostrapped aggregation, AdaBoost, stackedgeneralization, gradient boosting machine method, random forest method,etc.), and/or any suitable form of machine learning algorithm.

In examples, the method 100 includes training a claims adjustment modulebased on vehicle event data extracted from interior image data andexterior image data (e.g., sampled by one or more onboard vehiclesystems) corresponding to a population of ego-vehicles (e.g., a corpusof event parameters). In such examples, transforming the set of eventparameters (e.g., and the fault status for each of the plurality ofparticipant identifiers) into insurance claim data is preferablyperformed using the claim adjustment module (e.g., trained using anysuitable method of those described above and/or any other suitablemethod); however, transforming the set of event parameters intoinsurance claim data can be otherwise suitably performed.

The method includes Block S400, which recites: transmitting insuranceclaim data to an endpoint. Block S400 functions to make claim dataaccessible to external entities (e.g., that require data to initiateand/or track an insurance claim). Block S400 can also function toautomatically maintain a record (e.g., a remotely stored record) ofvehicle events (e.g., nominal vehicle events, adverse vehicle events).The endpoint is preferably a web service endpoint (e.g., defined by aWSDL document), but can additionally or alternatively be any suitableremote repository of information that is accessible by insurance-relatedentities (e.g., a PDF or HTML form that can be submitted to an entity orother endpoint, a database of insurance claim data, etc.). Block S400 ispreferably performed by a communication module associated with thevehicle; the communication module can be integrated with the vehicle(e.g., a wireless internet modem of the vehicle), part of a mobiledevice associated with the vehicle and/or an occupant of the vehicle(e.g., a cellular radio), part of a mobile device paired with adashboard camera module emplaced in the vehicle, and/or any othersuitable communication module. In alternatives, Block S400 can beperformed in a distributed manner; for example, data can be transmittedto a central repository (e.g., an endpoint server, a remote server, aremote computing system, etc.) where it is linked together according toany suitable protocols and/or processes and made available for on-demandretrieval by an entity.

Block S400 can, in variations, include determining a destination entity(e.g., an insurance company, department within the insurance company,specific insurance adjuster, etc.) to which to transmit the insuranceclaim data (e.g., based on insurance company associated with thevehicle, associated with a user device, associated with the installableonboard vehicle system, etc.), wherein the endpoint is associated withthe destination entity. The destination entity can be selected based onthe event parameter or characteristic value (e.g., based on the eventseverity, event class, driver fault, etc.), based on the estimated claimvalue or probability of resolution in favor of one or more parties(e.g., claims with a high probability of being challenged sent to afirst entity, claims with a high probability of settlement sent to asecond entity, low payout claims sent to a third entity, highprobability of resultant litigation sent to a fourth entity, one or moreof the aforementioned associated probabilities sent to the same entity,etc.), or otherwise selected. A high probability can be determined basedon a threshold probability (e.g., 51%, 80%, 95%, etc.), an expectedvalue (e.g., obtained via integrating a probability distribution ofvarious claim outcomes or resolutions), and/or otherwise suitablydetermined. The destination entity can be selected using a lookup table(e.g., specified by the entity), a trained neural network (e.g., trainedbased on entity success rates for a given claim parameter, etc.),heuristics, deterministics, or otherwise determined. As shown in FIG. 4,Block S400 can also optionally include prompting the driver of thevehicle (e.g., at a mobile application rendered at a display of a mobiledevice of the driver) to approve submission of the insurance claim data,and transmitting the insurance claim data upon receipt of driverapproval.

In a specific example, Block S400 includes prompting a usercorresponding to one participant identifier (e.g., extracted inaccordance with one or more variations of Block S100) to provide atransmission instruction at a mobile device associated with the user. Inthis example and in response to receiving the transmission instruction,Block S400 includes automatically transmitting the insurance claim datato an endpoint at a remote computing system. The endpoint can of varioustypes, such as a web service endpoint, a database endpoint, auser-defined endpoint, and any other suitable type.

The systems and methods of the preferred embodiment and variationsthereof can be embodied and/or implemented at least in part as a machineconfigured to receive a computer-readable medium storingcomputer-readable instructions. The instructions are preferably executedby computer-executable components preferably integrated with the systemand one or more portions of the processor and/or the controller 430. Thecomputer-readable medium can be stored on any suitable computer-readablemedia such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memory, EEPROMs, optical devices (CD orDVD), hard drives, floppy drives, or any suitable device. Thecomputer-executable component is preferably a general or applicationspecific processor, but any suitable dedicated hardware orhardware/firmware combination device can alternatively or additionallyexecute the instructions.

Although omitted for conciseness, the preferred embodiments includeevery combination and permutation of the various system componentsand/or method blocks.

The FIGURES illustrate the architecture, functionality and operation ofpossible implementations of systems, methods and computer programproducts according to preferred embodiments, example configurations, andvariations thereof. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, step, or portion of code,which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block can occurout of the order noted in the FIGURES. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention defined in the followingclaims.

1. A method for automatically determining insurance claim data,comprising: sampling interior image data over a time interval using aninterior-facing camera of an onboard vehicle system rigidly coupled toan ego-vehicle; contemporaneously sampling exterior image data over thetime interval using an exterior-facing camera of the onboard vehiclesystem; at a processor of the onboard vehicle system, extracting vehicleevent data from the interior image data and the exterior image data,wherein the vehicle event data is associated with a vehicle eventoccurring within the time interval, wherein extracting the vehicle eventdata comprises extracting a set of event parameters, includingextracting: a first event parameter comprising a plurality ofparticipant identifiers, wherein each event participant identifier isassociated with insurance policy data corresponding to a participant inthe vehicle event; a second event parameter comprising a peakacceleration of the ego-vehicle during the time interval, whereinextracting the peak acceleration of the ego vehicle comprises:determining a first velocity of each object depicted in a first frame ofthe exterior image data; determining a second velocity of each objectdepicted in a second frame of the exterior image data, wherein the firstand second velocity are defined in three dimensions relative to theego-vehicle; and calculating the peak acceleration of the ego-vehiclebased on a comparison between the first velocity of each object and thesecond velocity of each object; calculating a loss probability based onthe peak acceleration; in response to the loss probability exceeding athreshold probability: determining a fault status for each of theplurality of participant identifiers, and transforming the set of eventparameters and the fault status for each of the plurality of participantidentifiers into insurance claim data; prompting a user corresponding toone participant identifier to provide a transmission instruction at amobile device associated with the user; and in response to receiving thetransmission instruction, automatically transmitting the insurance claimdata to an endpoint at a remote computing system.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the onboard vehicle system further comprises: anaccelerometer, and further comprising: sampling an accelerometer signalfrom the accelerometer at a time point prior to the time interval, andsampling the interior image data and the exterior image data in responseto the accelerometer signal exceeding a threshold value.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein, at the time point, the ego-vehicle is parked. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the loss probability based onthe peak acceleration comprises calculating the loss probability usingan adverse vehicle event model, and wherein the adverse vehicle eventmodel is trained based on a corpus of event parameters extracted from apopulation of ego-vehicles and corresponding insurance claim dataassociated with the population of ego-vehicles.
 5. The method of claim1, further comprising: training a claims adjustment module based onvehicle event data extracted from interior image data and exterior imagedata sampled by one or more onboard vehicle systems of a population ofego-vehicles, and wherein transforming the set of event parameters andthe fault status for each of the plurality of participant identifiersinto insurance claim data is performed using the claim adjustmentmodule.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein extracting the peakacceleration of the ego vehicle comprises: determining a first velocityof each object depicted in the first frame of the exterior image data;determining a second velocity of each object depicted in the secondframe of the exterior image data, wherein the first and second velocityare defined in three dimensions relative to the ego-vehicle; andcalculating the peak acceleration of the ego-vehicle based on acomparison between the first velocity of each object and the secondvelocity of each object.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein sampling theimage data is performed in response to detecting a trigger.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein extracting vehicle event data furthercomprises: extracting driver behavior data corresponding to a driver ofthe ego-vehicle from the image data; determining a fault statusassociated with the driver based on the driver behavior data; and inresponse to the loss probability exceeding the threshold probability,transforming the set of event parameters and the fault status intoinsurance claim data.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein saidtransforming into insurance claim data comprises estimating a claim costbased on the loss probability and the fault status.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said transforming the plurality of participantidentifiers comprises determining a number of occupants in theego-vehicle during the time interval.
 11. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising training a claims adjustment module based on vehicle eventdata extracted from sensor data sampled by one or more onboard vehiclesystems of a population of ego-vehicles, and wherein transforming theset of event parameters into the insurance claim data is performed usinga claim adjustment module.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprisingprompting a user corresponding to one participant identifier of theplurality of participant identifiers to provide a transmissioninstruction at a mobile device associated with the user, and whereinautomatically transmitting the insurance claim data is performed inresponse to receiving the transmission instruction.
 13. A method forautomatically determining insurance claim data, comprising: samplinginterior image data over a time interval using an interior-facing cameraof an onboard vehicle system rigidly coupled to an ego-vehicle;contemporaneously sampling exterior image data over the time intervalusing an exterior-facing camera of the onboard vehicle system; at aprocessor of the onboard vehicle system, extracting vehicle event datafrom the interior image data and the exterior image data, wherein thevehicle event data is associated with a vehicle event occurring withinthe time interval, wherein extracting the vehicle event data comprisesextracting a set of event parameters, including extracting: a firstevent parameter comprising a plurality of participant identifiers,wherein each event participant identifier is associated with insurancepolicy data corresponding to a participant in the vehicle event; asecond event parameter comprising a peak attitudinal shift of theego-vehicle during the time interval, wherein extracting the peakattitudinal shift of the ego-vehicle comprises: determining a firstposition of each object depicted in the first frame of the exteriorimage data at a first time point within the time interval, wherein thefirst position is defined in two dimensions relative to a boundary ofthe frame; determining a second position of each object depicted in thesecond frame of the exterior image data at a second time point withinthe time interval subsequent to the first time point, wherein the secondposition is defined in two dimensions relative to the boundary of theframe; and calculating the peak attitudinal shift of the ego-vehiclebased on a comparison between the first position of each object and thesecond position of each object; calculating a loss probability based onthe peak attitudinal shift; in response to the loss probabilityexceeding a threshold probability: determining a fault status for eachof the plurality of participant identifiers, and transforming the set ofevent parameters and the fault status for each of the plurality ofparticipant identifiers into insurance claim data; prompting a usercorresponding to one participant identifier to provide a transmissioninstruction at a mobile device associated with the user; and in responseto receiving the transmission instruction, automatically transmittingthe insurance claim data to an endpoint at a remote computing system.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the onboard vehicle system furthercomprises: an accelerometer, and further comprising: sampling anaccelerometer signal from the accelerometer at a time point prior to thetime interval, and sampling the interior image data and the exteriorimage data in response to the accelerometer signal exceeding a thresholdvalue.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein, at the time point, theego-vehicle is parked.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:training a claims adjustment module based on vehicle event dataextracted from interior image data and exterior image data sampled byone or more onboard vehicle systems of a population of ego-vehicles, andwherein transforming the set of event parameters and the fault statusfor each of the plurality of participant identifiers into insuranceclaim data is performed using the claim adjustment module.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, wherein sampling the image data is performed inresponse to detecting a trigger.
 18. The method of claim 13, whereinextracting vehicle event data further comprises: extracting driverbehavior data corresponding to a driver of the ego-vehicle from theimage data; determining a fault status associated with the driver basedon the driver behavior data; and in response to the loss probabilityexceeding the threshold probability, transforming the set of eventparameters and the fault status into insurance claim data.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, wherein said transforming into insurance claim datacomprises estimating a claim cost based on the loss probability and thefault status.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein said transforming theplurality of participant identifiers comprises determining a number ofoccupants in the ego-vehicle during the time interval.
 21. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising training a claims adjustment module basedon vehicle event data extracted from sensor data sampled by one or moreonboard vehicle systems of a population of ego-vehicles, and whereintransforming the set of event parameters into the insurance claim datais performed using a claim adjustment module.
 22. The method of claim13, further comprising prompting a user corresponding to one participantidentifier of the plurality of participant identifiers to provide atransmission instruction at a mobile device associated with the user,and wherein automatically transmitting the insurance claim data isperformed in response to receiving the transmission instruction.